The Bay advances with Van Wezel Foundation support; WUSF to host NPR's Meghna Chakrabarti

Pace girls embrace hope

Bay Park Conservancy receives
$100,000 for Phase 2 of The Bay

The Van Wezel Foundation board of directors has committed $100,000 to help fund Phase 2 of The Bay, the newly opened public park and environmental showcase on Sarasota Bay.

“The Van Wezel Foundation is an important community partner in our aspirations to create a place where arts, culture, the environment, nature and recreation intersect,” said AG Lafley, founding CEO of The Bay Park Conservancy. “We are grateful for this meaningful gift as we continue to build one park for all.”

The Bay, in development since 2019, opened on Oct. 14 and includes more than 14 acres of greenspace, a playground, common ground lawns, a Fountain Garden, multiple walkways, an outdoor "reading room," an ADA-accessible paddle launch, and restored mangroves and shorelines.

The park will cost about $150 million and will take 7-10 years to complete over three or more phases. For information, visit thebaysarasota.org or contact Julia Groom at 941-786-8732 or julia@dreamlarge.org.

All Faiths raises $188,000
at first 'FriendsGiving' event

All Faiths Food Bank raised $188,000 on Sunday for its ThankFULL Tummies campaign, an annual effort to distribute turkeys to neighbors facing hunger during the holidays.

The inaugural "FriendsGiving" fundraiser, which will become All Faiths' signature event for the holidays, welcomed 150 guests at Mattison's Forty-One. Major sponsors included Mariner Wealth Advisors, Bruce and Elaine Burton, Dennis and Dawn Doughty, and Ron and Jo Jadin.

"Challenging economic conditions, surging costs of living throughout the state and now the impacts of Hurricane Ian are hitting the most at-risk in our community hard," All Faiths CEO Sandra Frank said. "We are so grateful to all of our sponsors and guests who have ensured that thousands of our neighbors who are facing hunger will have the opportunity to enjoy a delicious, healthy holiday meal."

All Faiths' goal is to distribute more than 13,000 turkeys and 3.6 million holiday meals through its own distributions and through a network of 200 partner agencies. For more information, or to make a gift to the ThankFULL campaign, visit allfaithsfoodbank.org.

WUSF's 'Listen Up' to host
NPR's Meghna Chakrabarti

National Public Radio “On Point” host Meghna Chakrabarti will visit Sarasota on Nov. 1 for WUSF’s “Listen Up Luncheon” series at the Sarasota Yacht Club, 1100 John Ringling Blvd.

Chakrabarti, an award-winning radio host based in Boston, is an environmental scientist with degrees from Oregon State, Harvard, and Boston University. She is the former host of "Modern Love: The Podcast" (a collaboration with the New York Times). She has won awards for reporting from the Associated Press and the Radio Television News Directors Association.

“On Point” senior editor Dorey Scheimer will lead the discussion, which begins at noon. Registration is at 11:30 a.m. For information about the program, tickets, and sponsorships, including a meet-and-greet with Chakrabarti, visit wusf.org/listenup.

Youth Empowerment Program
receives $25,000 donation

The Laurel Civic Association was recently awarded $25,000 from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County to support the Youth Empowerment Program.

“Our youth programs set the stage for great success in making sure that every child and teen who comes to us is empowered to succeed," Laurel Civic executive director Peter Casamento said.

The Community Foundation partners with Laurel Civic to support the John Jefferson Youth Empowerment Programs, including cutting edge technology, dynamic speakers and enhanced learning opportunities. Programs include the Homework Assistance Program, Teen Empowerment Summer Camp, and the Summer Reading Program for younger children. Visit laurelcivic.org to learn more.

Around and about ...

The Team Tony Cancer Foundation's fifth annual Gran Fondo Sarasota cycling fundraiser – postponed on Oct. 16 because of damage by Hurricane Ida – has been rescheduled for Dec. 4 at Nathan Benderson Park.

The event supports the Sarasota-based nonprofit's mission to provide free peer-to-peer cancer support and resources to cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. For tickets and information, visit TeamTony.org or call 941-227-4404.

• The Mustang Club of West Central Florida will hold its 30th annual Ponies under the Palms charity car show on Nov. 20 at Lakewood Ranch Main Street. The event benefits the Denis V. Cooper Foundation's “Wishes for Heroes” and Take Stock in Children. Visit mustangclubofwestcentralflorida.com for details and registration or contact Tracey at 920-944-8137 or trabin2137@gmail.com.

• The Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast has been selected as one of 10 finalists for this year's Impact100 SRQ grants. Six finalists will receive grants for $110,500. Formed in 2018, Impact100 SRQ unites a diverse group of women who fund transformational projects and programs at nonprofits in Sarasota and Manatee counties. Visit conservationfoundation.com and impact100srq.org to learn more.

Submissions by Julia Groom, Sharon Kunkel, Alex Greco, Joyce Mulcahy, Lori Kayser, David Bishop, Sam Valentin, Kendall Toothe.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: LOCAL: Pace Center girls embrace hope; NPR in Sarasota for 'Listen Up'